In built TC performance sounds pretty good. This effectively gives you a zoom with a focal length of 200-560mm AND it can be used with a 2x TC also.

Looking forward to it ... was planning to get the 600mm by the end of this year but this lens gives very nice options (except for the 1 stop sacrificed for the TC beyond 400mm). Hope the production models are as excellent as this review makes it out to be.

Speaking (ok, 'typing') as an Australian... I find it great to hear a review by an Aussie professional! I have heard many accents from various other countries doing pro reviews of lenses / photography gear, so this is refreshing.

Aussie Aussie Aussie... oi oi oi!!

And what Joshua says makes sense... of course it is a shame we didn't have access to all his sample shots, but as it's not a final production copy, that's probably understandable (NDA).

I doubt I'll buy this lens, even though I can afford it... but I would very much like to use it (I particularly enjoy taking photos of wildlife).

Regards

Paul

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I'm not a brand-fanatic. What I do appreciate is using my 7D and 350D cameras along with a host of lenses & many accessories to capture quality photos, and share with friends.

I hope the built in tc is very durable , and that you can use it many thousands of times before it wears ...

I never bought such expensive lenses, but seriously if you are spending over $10000 for a lens, they better be "very durable" and you can be certain that "you can can use it many thousands of times".Just out of curiosity, when you say "before it wears", what exactly do you mean? what kind of wear are you talking about in an inbuilt tc?

I hope the built in tc is very durable , and that you can use it many thousands of times before it wears ...

It's probably more durable that the lens mount after attaching and removing a TC / camera many thouands of times. The lens mount on most large tele's take quite a pounding over time. This new built in TC should reduce that massively...and let less dust / sand inside too.

It's probably more durable that the lens mount after attaching and removing a TC / camera many thouands of times. The lens mount on most large tele's take quite a pounding over time. This new built in TC should reduce that massively...and let less dust / sand inside too.

Yea, my thinking as well. Not to mention teleconverters, cameras and lenses get dropped in the swapping process. Not often, but I have seen plenty of pros do it. I watched a friend chase a 2X III converter down a hill as it sort of bounced and rolled away from him. He'd been trying to swap it into a 5DII 70-200 setup to get a quick 400mm shot and it slipped from his fingers.

If this lens were 10K, I'd consider it. I could sell my 400mm 2.8 IS and both teleconverters, and I suppose my 300mm is f4 as well. But I don't think it will be 10K, or less than it's retail price for a long time.